A talk event will be held to commemorate the publication at the end of May of the new book "Forest and Abacus" by Shibusawa Toshikazu, the record-keeping mentor of the owner of Itoshiro Clothing Store, Hirano Kaori, who has had a major influence on the clothing design of the store.
Juichi has been involved in many projects, including agricultural support overseas, the launch of Huis Ten Bosch, and the "Kikigaki Koshien" program for high school students across the country. Behind his thoughts on these various activities, we can also find the presence of Shibusawa Eiichi (Juichi's great-grandfather), who shaped the Japan of today, and Shibusawa Keizo (Juichi's great-uncle), who supported his successor, the folklorist Miyamoto Tsuneichi.
Mr. Toshikazu will talk about his activities to date and his thoughts on how Japanese regions should be in the future. (A social gathering is also planned afterwards.)
At the Umagoya Gallery next to the Itoshiro Clothing Store main store, a special exhibition called "Folk Clothing that paves the way for the future - What we learned from Shibusawa folklore studies" is also being held at the same time. Please take a look at that as well.
Date and time: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Talk event: Doors open at 15:00, starts at 15:30, ends at 17:30. Networking event: starts at 18:00, ends at 20:00.
Venue: Itoshiro Clothing Store (65-18 Itoshiro, Shiratori-cho, Gujo-shi, Gifu Prefecture)
Capacity: 15 people
Participation fee: Talk event 3,000 yen (includes one copy of "Forest and Abacus")
*Free for high school students and younger. Social gathering: 3,000 yen (food fee. Drinks not included)
*High school students and younger: 1,500 yen
*Please note that you can visit the main store until 2:30pm before the talk event. Please make sure you have plenty of time.
About the speaker 
【speaker】
Toshikazu Shibusawa
Born in 1952. Graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture Graduate School. In 1980, he was appointed to the Paraguayan National Agricultural Experiment Station as an expert of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. After returning to Japan, he was involved in the planning, construction and operation of Nagasaki Holland Village and the recycling-oriented city "Huis Ten Bosch" as an executive. Currently, as the chairman of the board of directors of the Coexistence of Forests Network, he is working on community and human development activities with environmental NGOs in Japan and Asian countries. He is involved in education and awareness-raising on forest culture, such as the "Recording and Writing Koshien" project, in which 100 high school students from all over the country visit "masters and experts of the forest" and "masters of the sea and rivers," write down their stories, and then disseminate them. He is the great-grandson of Shibusawa Eiichi, a great Meiji era businessman.
【listener】
Hirano Kaori
Born in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture in 1981. Owner of Itoshiro Clothing Store. Moved to Itoshiro, a village deep in the mountains of Gifu, in 2011 and began interviewing local elderly people. Impressed by the wisdom of our ancestors' lives, he is working to pass it on. In the process, he learned how to make farm work pants, a traditional local tradition, and redesigned them to produce and sell. He also grows and harvests plants to do indigo and plant dyeing.
<About reservations for talk events>
Please make your payment in advance on this website. If you are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact info@itoshiro.org by midnight three days prior to the event (July 11th). We will then process your refund. Please note that we will not be able to refund your payment if you cancel after two days prior to the event (July 10th) or if you are unable to attend on the day of the event.
*While you're participating in the event, why not also visit Itoshiro's historical sites?
Hakusan Nakai Shrine: 5 minutes by car Jyoansugi (a giant tree with a legend behind the shrine): 20 minutes on foot from the shrine grounds Itoshiro Osugi (1800 years old, the sixth largest tree in Japan): 30 minutes by car + 15 minutes on foot
